He said the government is making “contingency plans” to ensure access to medicines in case of a hard Brexit in which Britain exits the European Union without any divorce deal.

Varadkar’s disclosure came after British Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed that her government is stockpiling food and drugs in case negotiations with the EU fail. He said Ireland will have no issue in accessing food supplies.

But Varadkar admitted for the first time that Ireland is adopting a similar medicines plan due to the risk the country is unable to easily access drugs from Britain because of expected new restrictions and changed supply chains.